Alborz Province
Karaj is one of the big cities of Iran and also the center of Alborz province. According to the census of 1385, the population of this city was equal to 1,377,450 people, which makes it the fifth most populous city in Iran after Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan and Tabriz. Compared to other big cities of Iran, it is now considered as one of the big cities of the country.
Location and country divisions
Karaj, with an area of 162 square kilometers, is located 35 kilometers west of Tehran and on the southern slope of the Alborz mountain range. This city is bordered by Mazandaran province from the north, Shahryar city and Central province from the south, Saujblag and Qazvin cities from the west, and Tehran province from the east. The wide plain of Karaj, with an average height of 1,320 meters above sea level, is on the way of the communication route of vehicles carrying imported and exported goods from the border of Turkey and Azerbaijan to Tehran and vice versa. Alborz mountains separate Mazandaran and Karaj provinces. Karaj village is located among the winding valleys of Alborz and around Chalus road. From Kandavan tunnel to Murad Tepe village in the west of Ishtehard, it forms the Karaj governorate. Karaj governorate was founded in 1337 for a population of about 35 thousand people and with an area of about 5830 square kilometers. Until 1368, this city had several departments including: Central, Shahryar, Rabat Karim, Taleghan, and Eshthard, but after the conversion of Shahryar, Rabat Karim, and Saujblag to the city, four parts were separated from it, and now it includes two departments, Central and Eshthard, and There are seven villages. The central part includes 6 villages named: Nessa, Asara, Adran, Kamal Abad, Garmdera from Kandavan tunnel to (Mahedasht) or Mard Abad or the old Shahdasht. Ishtehard section, which continues from Ahmadabad to Moradtepe, has only one village named Palangabad (Rahmaniyah).
historical background
Karaj, which now bears a significant part of Tehran's population pressure and lack of water, has been an attractive land and the center of water and development since prehistoric and ancient times. The natural talents and abundant water resources of the Alborz mountain range, as well as the fertile soil of the slopes of Alborz and the plain leading to it, have been suitable for human communities, and the reason for that is the valuable ancient works that can be seen in the corners of this vast plain and on the edge of ancient communication routes. The hills of Agh Tepe, Murad Tepe and Mardabad Hill, the historical fortresses of Teng Gesil and Shahristanak, and the monuments of the Islamic era such as the Mongolian Midandak Tower, the bridge and caravanserai of Shah Abbasi Karaj, the Qajar palaces and the palaces of Reza Shahi and Mohammad Reza Shahi tell of the continuity of successive settlements in this area. has it.
The available information indicates that Karaj was a part of Mazandaran for a while and was once a part of Ray, and sometimes it was considered one of the villages of Taleghan or Shahristan. Before the Mongol attack, caravans traveled more than the road that went to Ray through Segzabad and Shahryar. From this period onwards, the Qazvin-Karaj-Ray road was preferred to the previous one, but the importance of Karaj increased in the Safavid period due to its location on the Qazvin road to Tehran and Tabriz, and the caravanserais, bridges and forts built on the side of this road gave an identity
One of the reliable historians who mentioned Karaj is Moghdisi. In the 4th century AH, he mentioned Karaj as one of the villages of Ray. At the beginning of the 7th century AH, Yaqut Hamavi also considered Karaj as a subject of Ray. Mentioning the rivers of Iraq, Ajam mentions Kohroud, whose characteristics can be accurately applied to the Karaj River. In the middle centuries of Islam and after that, especially during the reign of the last Safavid kings, when Tehran became the seat of government of the court, the Qazvin-Karaj-Tehran route is taken into consideration and it is very likely that the Safavid caravanserai of Karaj can be attributed to this period. The most glorious historical period was the Qajar era, especially the era of Fath Ali Shah and Naser al-Din Shah. During this period, Karaj was also considered by Suleiman Mirza due to its proximity to the capital and being on the road connecting Soltanieh and Tabriz. The collection of Sulaymaniyah Karaj belongs to this period. In the same period, many corps passed through the region and left notes, which can be referred to the travelogues to access more comprehensive information.
Karaj comes from the word Karaj which means shouting. Because on Atashgah hill, Kalak mountains, Dokhtar Castle of Shahristan and Bez Qala of Eshthard, fires were set in the summer days to convey news and watch, and during war, they were informed about the attack of the enemies. .
In the Nafisi culture, Karaj means sphere, neck, cleft, and it is a river that flowed in the northwestern mountains of Ray and makes Shahyar and Saujblag blocks drinkable. have established It is also mentioned in various books that the word Karaj comes from the word Karaj which means foothills.
Stages of historical expansion of the city
Karaj, with a long history, a large population and a historical background, has traveled a winding road to reach the current metropolis. Karaj, in the area of Keshavarz and Misbah streets, was a village under Saujblag district, one of Tehran's 19th districts, and in this period, its administrative and commercial centers were sometimes Tehran, Berghan, Kurdan and Hashtgerd. Then, the city of Karaj became subordinate to the city of Tehran, and the representatives of the central offices were responsible for its affairs. This city passed the rural and urban period with a rapid leap and covered a very large area. Eshtehard, Shahryar, Taleghan, Saujblag, Kuhpayeh and the suburbs of Tehran province were all considered the territory of Karaj. After the Islamic revolution, with the rapid expansion and increase in population and the emergence of attraction poles, Karaj was divided into several cities and regions; that now each of the former parts has become a city and many of its satellite villages have turned into cities and towns. The area that is called Karaj Bozor (Karaj city) in the past included villages under the jurisdiction of Ken, Shemiran, Saujblag and Shahriar. have been; and Kalak, Sarjo, Hesar, Vasiyeh, Bagh Pir, Bilqan, Hosseinabad, Bilqan, Aliabad Pargirak, Tepe Moradabad, Bidistan, Sahrai Vian, Javadabad, Nahr Rostam, Dara Darwa, Hassanabad, Hajiabad, Sufiabad, Vahrjard (Vergerd), Delamber, Hyderabad , Mianjadeh, Shanbedej, Nozmin, Siah Kalan, Kesin, Sugar Factory, Hosseinabad Mehrshahr, Jo Mardabad, Sarhadabad, Asia Borji, Sar Asiyab, Deh Karaj, Hosseinabad Rahahan, Industrial City, around Imamzadeh Taher and Imamzadeh Hassan, Bagh Falahat and other areas which in recent years has been included in the city of Karaj. After the 1975 census and the new term of the presidency and the Islamic Council and many other needs, it seems that Karaj is not far away from reaching the important provincial stage.
Based on the surveys of the solar year 2007, Karaj metropolis had 680 hectares of worn-out urban fabric in that year.
Historical and cultural places
Shah Abbasi Caravanserai
More than 100 works of cultural-historical and artistic value have been identified in the area of Karaj governorate and included in the survey and identification report of this area, which is given in this article with a brief description of the village.
Cultural-historical works of Nesa, Asara and Adran districts
The villages of Nessa, Asara and Adran are located in a mountainous area and their settlements are established in steep valleys or on the high edge of the mountains. But the settlements of Adran are wider and more numerous than Nessa and Asara, and there are more agricultural lands and orchards for this reason. Agriculture has been more prosperous in this area for a long time, and as a result, living in villages is continuous and permanent.
Cultural-historical effect of Kamal Abad, Garmdara, Mohammad Abad and Karaj cities
In this area of Karaj governorate, there are valuable and impressive works, some of which have been introduced by cultural heritage experts of Tehran and Karaj province, and some of them are being restored and strengthened. Meanwhile, two old hot springs located in the villages of Heljard and Bilqan, despite their health and importance, have received less attention.
Important and famous places
Material and Energy Research Center
· Gohardasht prison
· Gazalhasar prison
Payam Airport
· Shah Abbasi Caravanserai
Shams Palace (Pearl)
Sulaymaniyah Palace
· Karaj Nuclear Medicine and Agricultural Research Center
· Alborz High School and Pre-University Center (Alborz College), Alborz Scientific Educational Institute
· Shahid Soltani Educational Center (Office of the National Organization for the Development of Brilliant Talents)
· Coach Training Center of Technical and Vocational Education Organization of the country
Seed research and improvement center
· Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute
· Shahid Montazerqaem Electricity Production Management Company (Shahid Montazerqaem Power Plant - or Fardis Power Plant)
Research Institute of Materials and Energy (Mishkin Dasht)
Karaj celebrities
· Abobaker Karaji, mathematician and hydrologist
Mohammad Shahbakhti, the second lieutenant general of the Iranian army
· Mohammed Sadegh Fateh, capitalist
Abbas Ali Zali, Member of Parliament
· Jaafar Shajuni, Member of Parliament
· Fateme Ajarlou, Member of Parliament
· Mohsen Kazrooni, Friday imam
· Mehrane Mahin Turabi, actress
· Hamid Tavakoli Kermani, writer
· Amirreza Bigdeli, writer
· Hamidreza Shirmohammadi, psychiatrist
· Naim Saadawi, football player
· Ebrahim Sadeghi, football player
· Mohammed Nosrati, football player
· The late Ayatollah Eshtredi, lecturer at Qom seminary and one of the leadership professors
· Hujjatul Islam, the late Mohammad Mohammadi Eshtredi, researcher and author of 200 books
· The late Ruhollah Dadashi, Iron Man of the Year
· Alireza Heydari, world wrestling champion
Tourist Attractions
Amirkabir Dam Lake (Karaj Dam)
Karaj-Chalus road After Kandavan tunnel, Karaj-Chalus road, Mehrshahr apple orchard, Pearl Palace (Shams), Jahanshahr family park and Ateshgah historical village can be mentioned among the tourist attractions of Karaj.
Shah Abbasi Caravanserai, the historical bridge of Karaj and Imamzadeh of Tahir Karaj, which is the burial place of many famous poets and contemporary art of Iran, are among the other historical and cultural attractions of Karaj tourism.
Other tourist attractions in Karaj
· Amirkabir Dam Complex, water sports facilities including boating, water skiing, fishing
· Dizin ski resort
· Khor ski resort
Atashgah Karaj village
· Takht Rostam fire place
· Sulaymaniyah Palace located in the Faculty of Agriculture
Tomb of Prince Suleiman
· Gachsar tulip garden
· Arenge Valley
· Varian villagers
Barghan village
Taleghan Dam Lake
Taleghan gardens
Agasht village
Karaj River
· Yehmorad Cave
· Sleeping bridge valley
· Vina village
· Adran waterfall
· flower garden
· Mahistan shopping center
Karaj Family Park with sports and recreational facilities
Tennis park
Jahanshahr Gardens
· Karaj Garden Mountain
